UCF remains in mix for NCAA Tournament with critical stretch ahead

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March Madness is just a month away, but UCF is already under pressure.

The Knights faced a tough 91-87 defeat at No. 11 Kansas on Tuesday, a game that felt like a Sweet 16 matchup as Johnny Dawkins‘ team tried to play the role of Cinderella.

From now on, every game holds NCAA Tournament implications for UCF (13-7, 4-5 Big 12). With each loss, the margin for error continues to shrink.

According to ESPN’s Bracketology, the Knights are on the bubble watch, positioned among the first four teams out of the 68-team tournament field. Today they will face BYU (14-6, 5-4 Big 12), also listed among the first four teams out.

The Cougars have won three straight games and are coming off a 93-89 overtime win against Baylor on Tuesday.

It’s now or never for UCF (61) with six of its remaining 11 games against teams with a worse NCAA NET ranking: Colorado (105), Oklahoma State (125), Utah (75), Kansas State (94) and TCU (81).

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NET rankings consider winning percentage, game results, strength of schedule, game location, net offensive and defensive efficiency and quality of wins and losses.

“We need to come out there with the right mindset,” said Dawkins. “We know that every team is going to be highly competitive and we need to ensure we’re ready to match that.”

The next four games are against teams with an average ranking of 30.25: BYU (36), Cincinnati (49), Baylor (29) and Iowa State (7).

Still, Dawkins hesitates to look too far down the road, remaining focused on the task at hand: BYU.

“You have to take that one game at a time and try to put your best foot forward,” said Dawkins. “That’s what we must do going to this next game after a tough loss. We have to regroup. That’s what basketball is all about.”

Keyshawn Hall says it’s only natural for players to peek at the latest NCAA tourney projections.

“We’re all human, so let’s be real,” said junior guard/forward. “We all pay attention and see it.

“We try…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ucf-remains-mix-ncaa-tournament-110000862.html

Author : Orlando Sentinel

Publish date : 2025-01-31 11:00:00

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